Construction of the new Hard Rock Rocksino is on pace for a mid-December opening. That’s the word from Rocksino officials who gathered Thursday for a topping off ceremony, the placing of the highest steel beam at the Northfield site.

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NORTHFIELD, Ohio - Construction of the new Hard Rock Rocksino is on pace for a mid-December opening. That's the word from Rocksino officials who gathered Thursday for a topping off ceremony, the placing of the highest steel beam at the Northfield site.

Northfield Park owner Brock Milstein applauded the speed of the construction crews "who have literally transformed this site from a parking lot to an incredible Rocksino building in less than eight months."

The Rocksino will be a 200,000 square foot standalone facility in the parking lot just off the Northfield Park grandstand.

"It's not just VLTs, it's a lot more than that," said President Jon Lucas. "We're going to have great entertainment, great restaurants so many things for people to do."

That will include Hard Rock Live, a 2,000-seat entertainment venue and a 350-seat comedy club.

As part of Thursday's topping off ceremony the Hard Rock announced that they've entered into a partnership with former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar on a new restaurant, Kosar's Wood Fired Grill.

"As someone who was born and raised here and grew up watching the Browns there is no bigger icon, there is no one who is more beloved and there is no one who represents our pride, our sense of community and our perseverance as a region more than Bernie Kosar," Milstein said.

The restaurant will feature memorabilia from throughout Kosar's career put together by the same staff that assembles the Hard Rock Cafes.

"In there, it will kind of be the story of Bernie and his career and various aspects within there," Lucas said. "We actually will operate it, he's a partner with us he'll make lots of appearances and just be a part of the team."

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.